Mechanical key holder



July 4, 1967 'r` RALTON 3,328,986

MECHANICAL KEY HOLDER Filed June l5, 1964 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l E Ki INVENTOR. THEODORE RALTON ATTORNEY July 4, 1967 T. RAL'roN MECHANICAL KEY HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1964 R O T N E V m TH EODOR E RAI-'RDN 3,328,986 MECHANICAL KEY HOLDER Theodore Ralton, New York, N.Y. (110-11 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, N.Y. 11375) v Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. N0. 375,260

1 Claim. (Cl. 70-456) The present application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Ser. No. 221,911, led Sept. 6, :1962, now United States Patent 3,137,157 issued lune l-6, 1964.

The present invention relates to a combination holder an-d locking handle for keys.

An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient holder for carrying an ordinary, frequently used key.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, foolproof mechanism for removing the key from inside its holder and flocking it to the holder in a position which renders the key mos-t easily insertable in a lock.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the insertion and retention of a key into the key holder of this invention and eliminating the necessity for complete or partial disassembly of the device.

An-other object of the invention is to insure positive key retention .in the holder by providing automatic key retaining lock means disposed within the casing and responsive to the introduction of the key element to retain the same in the holder.

In brief, this invention is directed toa combination key holder and handle in which a key may be selectively carried in exposed or concealed position and which by actuation of suitable latch means will automatically respond to move the key from one position to another. The invention further contemplates the inclusion of simpliiied key securing means whereby a key element may be inserted into the holder and retained therein without the use of tools and without the necessity of disassembling the device to place the key therein.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of the key 'holder herein claimed.

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view of the key holder of FIGURE l showing the key in the extended position.

FIGURE 3 is a top sectional View of the key holder as taken across line 3--3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the key holder as taken across line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the key holder as taken across line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a lsection-al view of the key holder as taken across line 6 6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a side sectional view of the key holder of FIGURE 1 showing the key in the retracted position.

FIGURE 8 is .an exploded view of the sliding member and key.

FIGURE 8A is an exploded view of a rst modified embodiment of the sliding member and key.

FIGURE 8B is an exploded view of a second modified embodiment of the sliding member -and key.

FIGURE 9 is a side sectional view of a first modified embodiment of the key holder herein claimed.

`FIGURE l0` is a side sectional view of a second rnodified embodiment of the key Iholder herein claimed.

Referring now to the drawing, it wi-ll be seen that the invention comprises an outside casing 10 which is a rectangular parallelopiped having separate front and rear end plates 12 and 14, respectively. Front end plate 12 'has a rectangular slot 16 for passage of a key. A forward hole 18 and a rearward hole 20` are in the uppermost narrow side 22 of casing 10 and are of the same size. A sliding member 24 has a rectangular cross-section and lits loosely I United States Patent O 3,328,986 Patented July 4, 1967 ice inside casing 410. Slide 24 has a hole 26 extending from the uppermost face 28 of said slide part Way down toward the lowermost face 30 of said slide. A pin 32 having a spring 34 coiled around its shank 36 is placed in hole 26. The head of pin 32 comprises a disk portion 38 having a diameter greater than that of holes 18 and 20 and a slightly llattened hemispherical portion 40 having a diameter slightly less than that of holes 18 and 20.

An opening 42 having a rectangular cross-section passes transversely through slide 24 from side 50' to side 52 of said slide. Two tapered lugs 46 and 48 are disposed directly above and Ibelow each other in the upper and lower Walls of opening 42 respectively and extend transversely across slide 24 from side 50 to side 52 thereof. The tapered side of each lug 46 land 48 faces front face 44 of slide 24. A sl-ot 43 having a rectangular cross-section extends longitudinally in slide 24 from front face 44 rearwardly into opening 42.

The key 56 has a llat, rectangular head 58, the key being of substantially the same thickness throughout. Head 58 has two rounded corners 60= and 61 and two notches 62 angl 63 being disposed directly above and below each ot er.

A rectangular boss `64 on rear face 45 of slide 24 and a similar boss 66 on the inside face of rear end plate 14 are mounts for the ends of a coil spring 68 which may have a rectangular cross-section corresponding in proportion to that of housing 10.

Attaching key l56 to slide 24 requires insertion of head 58 through slot 16 of front end plate 12 and then through slot 43 of slide 24 (which is within casing 10) until notches 62 and 63 engage lugs 46 and 48 respectively, thereby joining key 516 to slide 24 and eliminating relative movement therebetween.

When fully assembled and in retracted position, hem-ispherical portion 40I of pin 32 fits into rear hole 2l),v

thereby locking slide 24 in its rearmost position. In such position, key 56 is fully retracted within casing 10.

T o enable key 56 to be inserted into la lock cylinder, pin 32 is Idepressed by nger pressure until hemispherical portion 40 is below uppermost side 22 of casing 10. This permits pressure of spring 68 to push slide 24 forward until pin 62 is directly under forward hole 18, Where upon spring 34 pushes pin 32 upward until disk 38 bears against the inner portion of uppermost side 22, preventing further upward movement of pin 32. Hemispherical portion 40 is now in hole 18 and locks slide 24 against any additional movement, particularly against additional movement induced by spring 68. -In this forward position key 56 extends through rectangular slot 16 :and out of casing 10` far enough to permit insertion of sai-d key in a lock cylinder. Casing 10 forms a convenient handle for key 56.

To retract key 56, pin 32 is pushed down so that hemispherical portion 40 is clear of side 22 and key 56 is pushed rearwardly into casing 10 (compressing spring 68) until the forward end of key 56 just enters casing 10, in which position pin 32 is `directly below hole 20; pressure of spring 34 pushes pin 32 upwardly into hole 20 and thereby locks slide 24 and key 56 in this retracted position.

A modification of slide 24 and key 56 is shown in FIGURE 8A.

The head of key 156 has a rectangular recess in which a leaf spring 180 is fastened by means of a pin 184. Slide 124 has a slot 143 which extends from front face 144 of said slide 124 rearwardly part way toward the rear which, when the head is inserted into slot 143, engages recess 182 and thereby secures key 156 to slide 124.

A second modification of slide 24 and key 56 is shown in FIGURE 8B.

Slide 224 has a slot which extendsv from the front face of said slide 224 rearwardly part way toward .the rear face thereof. A threaded hole in the upper slide face extends down linto the slot, said threaded hole receiving a set screw 280. The key head is inserted into the slot, whereupon set screw 280 may be tightened against said head thereby securing key 256 to slide 224.

A modification of casing 10` is shown in lFIGURE 9.

Two slides 24a (each having a key) move colinearly in a single elongated casing 10a. Slides 24a are urged in opposite directions by a single coil spring 68a, connected to two bosses, one such -boss on each slide 24a. Means for locking either slide 24a in either the extended or the retracted position are analogous to such means above described in the unmodified embodiment. Similarly, means for securing the key to slide 24a are analogous to such means above described.

A second modification of casing 10 is shown in FIG- URE 10.

Such second modification comprises two slides 24b moving parallel .to and directly above and below each other within the same casing 10b. Locking means and securing means are as above described.

The foregoing is illustrative of preferred forms of this invention and it will be understood that these forms may be modified and other forms may be provided within the broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claim.

What is claimed is:

In a key holder the combination comprising:

(a) a substantially tubular casing;

(b) a slide disposed within said casing and movable between first and second positions;

(c) latch means carried by said slide and cooperable with means on said casing to selectively secure said slide in said first or said second position;

(d) spring means interconnecting one end of said casing and said slide for urging said slide into one of said positions;

(e) means defining a first recess extending into said slide at one end thereof;

(f) means defining a second recess extending transversely in said slide, said second recess communicating with said first recess;

(g) ltwo retaining lugs extending transversely in said slide within said second recess;

(h) key means including a shank portion, -a slide engagin-g portion, s-aid slide engaging portion adapted for disposition Within said first recess in said slide and two lug engaging portions, said lug engaging portions adapted to engage said retaining lugs whereby said key may be inserted and retained in said slide and be movable between said first and said second positions in conjunction with said slide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,701,771 2/ 1929 Di Stefano.

2,517,075 8/ 195 0` Aquila 287-53 2,600,749 6/ 1952 Gallagher 70-456 3,120,971 2/1964 Bengtsson 292-91 3,137,157 6/1964 Ralton 70-456 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

